Four Wild Witchhazels for Your Garden

Witchhazels are small deciduous trees or large shrubs with attractive form, colourful fall foliage and unique winter blooming flowers.

While their common name may sound rather medieval, Witchhazels derive their name from their forked stems used for water divining or ‘witching’ and the fact that their leaves resemble the appearance of Corylus or hazel trees.

Witchhazels, or in Latin, Hamamelis, belong to the Hamamelidacae family of plants and are related to other garden plants including Fothergilla and Corylopsis. There are several notable species in the genera, the most common of which are:

• Hamamelis mollis – Chinese Witchhazel
• Hamamelis vernalis – Vernal Witchhazel
• Hamamelis virginiana – Eastern Witchhazel
• Hamamelis macrophylla – Southern Witchhazel
• Hamamelis mexicana – Mexican Witchhazel
• Hamamelis x  intermedia – Hybrid Witchhazel

Witchhazels are usually available as vase-shaped multi-trunked trees or less often as ‘standards’ (with one single trunk). Their smallish mature size makes them ideal for all but the tiniest gardens.



Jelena Witchhazel Foliage in Fall



Foliage is generally mid-green and mildly rippled. The cool temperatures of Autumn bring on shades of fall colour including yellow, gold, orange and red.

But the most interesting feature of the Witchhazel is the flowers. Blooming in late winter to early spring, Witchhazel blooms add much needed colour to the winter garden. The flowers are delicate and vaguely resemble crinkled and twisted paper mache-like spidery flowers. While yellow is the most common, coppery-orange and red varieties are also available. Most Witchhazel blooms are also mildly fragrant, but not overwhelmingly so.



Primavera Witchhazel Flowers

 Primavera Witchhazel
Hamamelis x intermedia 'Primavera'

Primavera is a yellow flowered, somewhat fragrant, Witchhazel that blooms in January and February. It grows into a small tree, upright and vase shaped reaching 12-15 feet in height and spread. Fall foliage is primarily yellow in colour. Its hardy in USDA zones 5-9.






Diane Witchhazel Flowers


Diane Witchhazel
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’

One of the few hybrid Witchhazels with red flowers, Diane is always a popular choice for Northwest gardens. ‘Diane’ is a 1969 Dutch variety from an arboretum in Antwerp, Netherlands. Fall foliage includes several shades of red including maroon and crimson to yellow orange. Diane grows 6-8 feet in height and 8-10 feet in width. Its hardy to zone 4.




Arnolds Promise Witchhazel

 Arnolds Promise Witchhazel
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnolds Promise’

The intermedia varieties of Witchhazels are hybrids of Chinese (H. mollis) and Japanese Witchhazels (H. japonica). Arnolds Promise is one of the classic hybrids first released in 1963 from the Arnold Arboretum in Massachusetts. It delivers multi-coloured fall foliage in shades of red, orange and yellow followed by large lemon-yellow fragrant flowers in late winter. Its flower petals are usually shorter than many other newer Witchhazels, making it a little easier to identify.

Jelena Witchhazel Flowers

Jelena Witchhazel
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’
Jelena Witchhazel is a treat like none other. Its’ is one of the best varieties with its late winter blooming coppery-orange flowers. It is not fragrant. ‘Jelena’ is named for the wife of Robert de Belder, a man who also raised ‘Diane’ at the Kalmthout Arboretum, Netherlands. Its a vigorous, vase shaped small tree capable of growing 10-14ft tall and wide. Fall foliage turns shades of yellow, orange and red.




Growing & Caring For Witchhazels
Witchhazels can grow in many regions and are best grown in full sun in conditions that mimic their native understory woodland environments. Rich, well drained, organic, slightly acidic soils are preferred. Heavy clay soils should be avoided. Site Witchhazels in a location where they can be seen in the dreary winter months. Near a front door, a back patio or from a kitchen window is optimal. Most Witchhazels are hardy in zones 5-8, but suffer in hot dry conditions. As most witchhazels flower on this years growth, prune after flowering, if it is required at all.

Companion Plants
These small trees are excellent companions for dark green conifers an evergreens, winter blooming heather, hellebores,early spring blooming rhododendrons and flower bulbs like snowdrops and winter aconite.

Art’s Nursery carries a diverse selection of Witchhazel plants including many of the varieties listed here. Visit us in late winter or early spring and you just might see these striking trees in their full flowering beauty!